BBQ Tips and Tricks

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Networkn
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#3197422 19-Feb-2024 10:31

davidcole:

Paper is so gone by the time the food is put on (about 40 mins) that it's not really an issue. I have been thinking about getting some charcoal as well to try it. Seems to burn hotter, but maybe a little less smoke (wood smoke flavour). Pity it's hard to find a small bag rather than a 10kg one.

Your experience differs significantly from mine. I have a kettle and use charcoal/briquettes, and with paper, 'most' of the ash is gone but there is always some left, and along comes a gust of wind, and blows the remaining ash all over the food.

davidcole

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#3197433 19-Feb-2024 10:58

networkn:

davidcole:

Paper is so gone by the time the food is put on (about 40 mins) that it's not really an issue. I have been thinking about getting some charcoal as well to try it. Seems to burn hotter, but maybe a little less smoke (wood smoke flavour). Pity it's hard to find a small bag rather than a 10kg one.

Your experience differs significantly from mine. I have a kettle and use charcoal/briquettes, and with paper, 'most' of the ash is gone but there is always some left, and along comes a gust of wind, and blows the remaining ash all over the food.

I have a 1.2m long open tray. Food is about 200mm off the embers and rotating. Get a little bit of ash - but it's normally under all the wood embers - and haven't noticed any issues when the wind comes up (apart from during the main burndown).

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Goosey

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#3197435 19-Feb-2024 11:09

I really annoyed the old biddy next door recently when trying to start charcoal without a chimney.

I think gas torch is the way to go…although I do have the eco starters….and regular starters…..

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#3197436 19-Feb-2024 11:11

What’s everyone using for a cheap and cheerful gas torch?

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#3203812 6-Mar-2024 16:17

Goosey:

What’s everyone using for a cheap and cheerful gas torch?

I have one that I picked up at M10. Simple torch with a blue gas cylinder - about ~1L volume. If I was buying again, I'd get one with integrated ignition.

Mike

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#3203846 6-Mar-2024 18:01

Goosey:

I really annoyed the old biddy next door recently when trying to start charcoal without a chimney.

I think gas torch is the way to go…although I do have the eco starters….and regular starters…..

The starters I have used all pong of kerosene. Chimney just with rolled up paper has worked well for me. I think the ultimate would be a blowtorch and something to blow a stream of air. Or pure oxygen if you like fireworks.

MadEngineer

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#3203902 6-Mar-2024 20:54

I use a mixture of charcoal and briquettes in my bbq, started in a chimney using “natural” fire starters. I’ve found you need to put the starters towards the top of the chimney otherwise they just create a lot of smoke which slows the process down. I’ve started experimenting with a stack of three starters underneath the chimney to light it from the bottom which seems quicker.

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Handle9

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#3203909 6-Mar-2024 20:58

Goosey:

What’s everyone using for a cheap and cheerful gas torch?

I use one that sits on top of a camping butane canister. It's basically the same as this.

https://egostore.nz/products/master-torch

Handle9

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#3203911 6-Mar-2024 21:01

MadEngineer: I use a mixture of charcoal and briquettes in my bbq, started in a chimney using “natural” fire starters. I’ve found you need to put the starters towards the top of the chimney otherwise they just create a lot of smoke which slows the process down. I’ve started experimenting with a stack of three starters underneath the chimney to light it from the bottom which seems quicker.

Always light charcoal from the bottom of the chimney. The heat from the bottom charcoal heats the top. It also creates a cool red orange flare at the top when it gets really hot.

networkn

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#3203918 6-Mar-2024 21:39

Handle9:

MadEngineer: I use a mixture of charcoal and briquettes in my bbq, started in a chimney using “natural” fire starters. I’ve found you need to put the starters towards the top of the chimney otherwise they just create a lot of smoke which slows the process down. I’ve started experimenting with a stack of three starters underneath the chimney to light it from the bottom which seems quicker.

Always light charcoal from the bottom of the chimney. The heat from the bottom charcoal heats the top. It also creates a cool red orange flare at the top when it gets really hot.

100% This. I can honestly say, I've ever seen a chimney lit from the top.

Handle9

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#3203921 6-Mar-2024 21:43

networkn:

Handle9:

Always light charcoal from the bottom of the chimney. The heat from the bottom charcoal heats the top. It also creates a cool red orange flare at the top when it gets really hot.

100% This. I can honestly say, I've ever seen a chimney lit from the top.

I don't know why you would but each to their own I guess.

Stu

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#3204010 7-Mar-2024 09:45

Handle9:
Goosey:

What’s everyone using for a cheap and cheerful gas torch?

I use one that sits on top of a camping butane canister. It's basically the same as this.

https://egostore.nz/products/master-torch

That's the one I use. From Mitre 10. Works a treat.

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#3204223 7-Mar-2024 19:09

networkn:

Handle9:

MadEngineer: I use a mixture of charcoal and briquettes in my bbq, started in a chimney using “natural” fire starters. I’ve found you need to put the starters towards the top of the chimney otherwise they just create a lot of smoke which slows the process down. I’ve started experimenting with a stack of three starters underneath the chimney to light it from the bottom which seems quicker.

Always light charcoal from the bottom of the chimney. The heat from the bottom charcoal heats the top. It also creates a cool red orange flare at the top when it gets really hot.

100% This. I can honestly say, I've ever seen a chimney lit from the top.

When you've got firestarters that aren't starting a fire from the bottom of the chimney... nothing burns when it's flooded by smoke.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

networkn

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#3204232 7-Mar-2024 19:45

When you've got firestarters that aren't starting a fire from the bottom of the chimney... nothing burns when it's flooded by smoke.

I feel like we are missing some crucial bit of the picture here. I don't get a ton of smoke when I light my coals or briquettes, never have. Doesn't matter if I use a chimney or not.

I think you are doing something wrong, or using some bad combination.

Maybe watch some youtube videos and see what they are doing compared to you?

MadEngineer

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#3205319 11-Mar-2024 13:28

When the firestarters are stacked in at the bottom of the chimney they don't flame up for very long and just start smoldering. When they're closer to the top and more in the open they burn well. I stack a few briquettes above them to catch the flame and carefully stack them around to catch light.

From an old photo, red arrow is the remains of one of the starters:

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